Smoky Fish Tacos with Mango Slaw

This fish taco recipe and more was featured on SA Live Monday, July 30, 2018. To watch these links and to learn more about clean eating, click here! I start the show and my 2nd segment starts around 13 minutes. Let me know what you think and feel free to leave your questions below.

It doesn’t have to be Tuesday in my home for there to be tacos. In fact, I have intentionally created a chapter for my upcoming cookbook, Take Back Your Kitchen, just for tacos! And why not!? It’s a house-hold favorite and these fish tacos are sure to be crowd pleaser.

One of the biggest challenges when eating clean is flavor. The common myth is that if it is healthy, it is void of flavor. But I would beg to differ and I’ll prove it with these tacos.

My Philosophy

Fresh ingredients in their purest form are bursting with flavor. It’s knowing the right flavor profiles and combinations to make that perfect mouth-watering bite. And that’s exactly what I’ve worked hard to create with this recipe.

What kind of fish?

Fish tacos quickly became a favorite of mine when I lived in the Seattle area and was surrounded with plenty of options. While they were usually considered a cheat meal for me, at least I knew the fish I was eating was fresh and wild caught. What I realized when I moved further away from that Northern Pacific coastline, was how challenging it was to get quality seafood. But I didn’t want to compromise the quality and here’s why. Wild caught fish are simply that, wild. They are not farm raised and pumped full of food that is genetically modified…aka, chemicals. But does it really make a difference? YES! Over time, everything we put in to our bodies makes a difference. Farm raised fish, the most popular and less expensive route, is fed with genetically modified food like corn, soy and high fructose corn syrup. If your food eats it…you’re eating it; plain and simple. All those additives and GMOs can cause inflammation in your body. Think about this; arthritis, heart disease and digestive problems are all linked to inflammation. Its just not worth it.

So how do you avoid the budget breaker when purchasing wild caught fish? Purchase your fish in bulk and frozen. The marinade and seasoning from this recipe will add flavor and prevent it from being dry.

My Philosophy

Think before you buy and consume. Every small step you take to a healthier and cleaner diet, is well worth the effort.

Instructions

Start with marinading the cod. Pour the lime juice, zest, wedges, oil and salt and pepper in a large plastic zip bag. Add the cod and marinade in the fridge for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Create the dry rub by mixing all the spices together well. Feel free to double the recipe if you want to have it ready to go for later use. It stores well it a glass jar or spice container.

Next prepare the mango slaw. Pour the pre-packaged broccoli slaw mix (because why make it harder on yourself) and add the oil and lime juice to soften. Thinly slice your seeded jalapenos and red onion and add to the mix. Now here comes the STAR ingredient. The mango! Choose a mango that is between firm and overly ripe. It should smell mildly sweet. Using a sharp knife, slice the mango lengthwise right next to the pit. Repeat on the opposite side. Now score your mango by cutting 1/4 inch diagonal lines in both directions. This will create small 1/4 inch squares. Use a spoon to scoop out the mango right over the slaw to allow the juices to add to the flavor. Add a dash of salt and pepper and toss it all together. This slaw can be made the morning of to save you time later.

Creating the avocado cream sauce is simple. Mash your ripe avocados with a fork and mix in the rest of the ingredients. Continue to combine until they are well mixed and smooth.

Finally, I like to warm my tortillas on a griddle before grilling the fish. I keep them warm in a tortilla holder to allow them to get perfectly pliable.

Now its time for the main event! Take the fish out of the marinade and sprinkle the dry rub on both sides. I tend to be heavy handed as I like that burst of flavor and heat in each bite. Grill on medium-high heat for about 1-2 minutes per side if you’re using thinly sliced pieces as I did. Adjust your cooking time accordingly.